Apparatus and method for providing media services subject to viewing restrictions

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, determining that a communication device is outside of a restricted viewing area associated with media content and transmitting the media content for presentation at the communication device responsive to that determination. Other embodiments are disclosed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to telecommunications and morespecifically to an apparatus and method for providing media servicessubject to viewing restrictions.

BACKGROUND

Consumer access to media content is central to the growth of thetelecommunications industry. Increasingly, consumers demand the abilityto view media content on a wide variety of mobile electronics devices.Media content owners frequently desire to control content availabilityto consumer devices. Licensing arrangements are often used to governdistribution of media content over telecommunication networks. Asnetwork capabilities expand, licensing arrangements are impacted by theunique capabilities of mobile devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-2 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal forinteracting with the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication deviceutilized in the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system;

FIGS. 6-7 depict illustrative embodiments of methods operating inportions of the systems described in FIGS. 1-5; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods discussedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for providing media content subject to viewing restrictions.In one embodiment, a geographic location of a communication devicerelative to a restricted viewing area is used for media contentdistribution. Other embodiments are contemplated by the presentdisclosure.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a mobile communicationdevice having a memory coupled to a processor. The processor can beoperable to determine a geographic location of the mobile communicationdevice. In turn, the processor can be operable to transmit thegeographic location of the mobile communication device to a networkdevice of a communication network. The processor can also be operable toreceive media content from the network device conditioned upon adetermination that the geographic location of the mobile communicationdevice is outside of a restricted viewing area associated with the mediacontent. The processor can be operable to present the media content onthe mobile communication device.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a computer-readablestorage medium including computer instructions, which, when executed bya processor, cause the processor to determine that media content isassociated with a restricted viewing area. The computer instruction canalso cause the processor to encode the media content with informationthat describes the restricted viewing area associated with the mediacontent and to transmit the encoded media content to a mobilecommunication device. In turn, the mobile communication device is causedto present media content responsive to a determination that a geographiclocation of the mobile communication device is outside of the restrictedviewing area associated with the media content.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method includingdetermining that a mobile communication device is outside of arestricted viewing area associated with a media content and transmittingthe media content for presentation at the mobile communication deviceresponsive to the determination.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 100 for delivering media content. The communication system 100can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) media system. TheIPTV media system can include a super head-end office (SHO) 110 with atleast one super headend office server (SHS) 111 which receives mediacontent from satellite and/or terrestrial communication systems. In thepresent context, media content can represent, for example, audiocontent, moving image content such as 2D or 3D videos, video games,virtual reality content, still image content, and combinations thereof.The SHS server 111 can forward packets associated with the media contentto one or more video head-end servers (VHS) 114 via a network of videohead-end offices (VHO) 112 according to a common multicast communicationprotocol.

The VHS 114 can distribute multimedia broadcast content via an accessnetwork 118 to commercial and/or residential buildings 102 housing agateway 104 (such as a residential or commercial gateway). The accessnetwork 118 can represent a group of digital subscriber line accessmultiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service areainterface that provide broadband services over fiber optical links orcopper twisted pairs 119 to buildings 102. The gateway 104 can usecommon communication technology to distribute broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 106 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast channels to media devices 108 such as computers or televisionsets managed in some instances by a media controller 107 (such as aninfrared or RF remote control).

The gateway 104, the media processors 106, and media devices 108 canutilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, powerlineor phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocolsuch as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth, Zigbee, or other present ornext generation local or personal area wireless network technologies. Byway of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invokedbetween the media processors 106 and subsystems of the IPTV media systemfor services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

A satellite broadcast television system 129 can be used also in themedia system of FIG. 1. The satellite broadcast television system can beoverlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as anotherrepresentative embodiment of communication system 100. In thisembodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 115 carrying mediacontent can be received by a satellite dish receiver 131 coupled to thebuilding 102. Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver131 can be transferred to the media processors 106 for demodulating,decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the mediadevices 108. The media processors 106 can be equipped with a broadbandport to the ISP network 132 to enable interactive services such as VoDand EPG as described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcastdistribution system such as cable TV system 133 can be overlaid,operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satelliteTV system as another representative embodiment of communication system100. In this embodiment, the cable TV system 133 can also provideInternet, telephony, and interactive media services.

It is contemplated that the present disclosure can apply to any presentor next generation over-the-air and/or landline media content servicessystem.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 130, a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing web portal services over an Internet ServiceProvider (ISP) network 132 to wireline media devices 108 or mobilecommunication devices 116.

Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media devices overlandline technologies such as those described above. Additionally, mediaservices can be offered to media devices by way of a wireless accessbase station 117 operating according to common wireless access protocolssuch as Global System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Accessor CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal MobileTelecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave orWiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and soon. Other present and next generation wide area wireless networktechnologies are contemplated by the present disclosure.

Communication system 100 can also provide for all or a portion of thecomputing devices 130 to function as a media server device 130. Themedia server device 130 can use common computing and communicationtechnology to perform function 162, which includes among things,distribution of media content subject to viewing area restrictions. Themedia server device 130 can be used to receive media content and todetermine if the media content is associated with a restricted viewingarea. The media server device 130 can also be used to receive geographiclocation information from a mobile communication device 116. The mediaserver device 130 can further be used to transmit the media content tothe mobile communication device 116 responsive to determining arelationship between the geographic location of the mobile device 116and the restricted viewing area associated with the media content. Themedia server device 130 can be used to encode the media content withinformation describing the restricted viewing area and to transmit theencoded media content to a mobile communication device 116. The mediaserver device 130 can also be used to send a notification to a mobilecommunication device 116 that the media content is blacked out from themobile communication device 116 due to its location. The media serverdevice 130 can further be used to provide a subscription serviceenabling a mobile communication device 116 to view the media contentregardless of the viewing restriction. The media processors 106 andmobile communication devices 116 can be adapted with software functions164 and 166, respectively, to further utilize the services of the mediaserver device 130. For example, the media processors 106 and mobilecommunication devices 116 can be adapted to execute software functions164 and 166, respectively, to determine geographic location informationand to transmit this information to the media server device 130.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 200employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture tofacilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switchedsystems. Communication system 200 can be overlaid or operably coupledwith communication system 100 as another representative embodiment ofcommunication system 100.

Communication system 200 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)240, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 230, and other commonnetwork elements of an IMS network 250. The IMS network 250 canestablish communications between IMS-compliant communication devices(CDs) 201, 202, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs 203, 205,and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function(MGCF) 220 coupled to a PSTN network 260. The MGCF 220 need not be usedwhen a communication session involves IMS CD to IMS CD communications. Acommunication session involving at least one PSTN CD may utilize theMGCF 220.

IMS CDs 201, 202 can register with the IMS network 250 by contacting aProxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with aninterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn, communicates with a ServingCSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with the HSS 240. To initiate acommunication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD 201 can submita Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originatingP-CSCF 204 which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF206. The originating S-CSCF 206 can submit the SIP INVITE message to oneor more application servers (ASs) 217 that can provide a variety ofservices to IMS subscribers.

For example, the application servers 217 can be used to performoriginating call feature treatment functions on the calling party numberreceived by the originating S-CSCF 206 in the SIP INVITE message.Originating treatment functions can include determining whether thecalling party number has international calling services, call IDblocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit dialing, and/or is requestingspecial telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel callforwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Based on initialfilter criteria (iFCs) in a subscriber profile associated with a CD, oneor more application servers may be invoked to provide various calloriginating feature services.

Additionally, the originating S-CSCF 206 can submit queries to the ENUMsystem 230 to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITEmessage to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminatingcommunication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP URI can be used by anInterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 207 to submit a query to the HSS 240 toidentify a terminating S-CSCF 214 associated with a terminating IMS CDsuch as reference 202. Once identified, the I-CSCF 207 can submit theSIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF 214. The terminating S-CSCF214 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 216 associated with theterminating CD 202. The P-CSCF 216 may then signal the CD 202 toestablish Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services,thereby enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voiceand/or data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile,one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various callterminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not disturb,music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing, etc.

In some instances the aforementioned communication process issymmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” inFIG. 2 may be interchangeable. It is further noted that communicationsystem 200 can be adapted to support video conferencing. In addition,communication system 200 can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs 201, 202with the multimedia and Internet services of communication system 100 ofFIG. 1. It is further contemplated that the CDs of FIG. 2 can operate aswireline or wireless devices. For example, the CDs of FIG. 2 can becommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station 117 such as shown inFIG. 1, a femtocell (not shown), a WiFi router, a DECT base unit, oranother suitable wireless access unit to establish communications withthe IMS network 250 of FIG. 2.

If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as CD203 or CD 205 (in instances where the cellular phone only supportscircuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM system 230 can respondwith an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originatingS-CSCF 206 to forward the call to the MGCF 220 via a Breakout GatewayControl Function (BGCF) 219. The MGCF 220 can then initiate the call tothe terminating PSTN CD over the PSTN network 260 to enable the callingand called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications.

It is further appreciated that the CDs of FIG. 2 can operate as wirelineor wireless devices. Although not shown, the CDs of FIG. 2 can becommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station 221, a femtocell, aWiFi router, a DECT base unit, or another suitable wireless access unitto establish communications with the IMS network 250 of FIG. 2. Thecellular access base station 121 can operate according to commonwireless access protocols such as Global System for Mobile (GSM), CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA),Universal Mobile Telecommunications (UMTS), World interoperability forMicrowave (WiMAX), Software Defined Radio (SDR), Long Tenn Evolution(LTE), and so on. Other present and next generation wireless networktechnologies are contemplated by the present disclosure. Accordingly,multiple wireline and wireless communication technologies arecontemplated for the CDs of FIG. 2.

It is further contemplated that cellular phones supporting LTE cansupport packet-switched voice and packet-switched data communicationsand thus may operate as IMS-compliant mobile devices. In thisembodiment, the cellular base station 221 may communicate directly withthe IMS network 250.

Communication system 200 can include or otherwise be coupled to themedia server device 130 of FIG. 1 for purposes similar to thosedescribed above. It is further contemplated by the present disclosurethat the media server device 130 can perform the function 162 andthereby provide a media content distribution application for subscribersassociated with CDs 201, 202, 203, and 205. CDs 201, 202, 203, and 205can be adapted with software to perform function 170 to utilize andintegrate with the media content distribution application performed bythe media server device 130. It is further contemplated that the mediaserver device 130 can be an integral part of the application server(s)217, where the application server(s) 217 performs function 172, whichcan be substantially similar to function 162 and adapted to theoperation of the IMS network 250.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal 302 which canbe hosted by server applications operating from the computing devices130 of the communication system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The webportal 302 can be used for managing services of communication systems100-200. A web page of the web portal 302 can be accessed by a UniformResource Locator (URL) with an Internet browser such as Microsoft'sInternet Explorer™, Mozilla's Firefox™, Apple's Safari™, or Google'sChrome™ using an Internet-capable communication device such as thosedescribed in FIGS. 1-2. The web portal 302 can be configured, forexample, to access a media processor 106 and services managed therebysuch as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog,an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), or a personal catalog (such aspersonal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored at the mediaprocessor 106. The web portal 302 can also be used for provisioning IMSservices described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioningcellular phone services, and so on.

It is contemplated by the present disclosure that the web portal 302 canfurther be utilized to manage and provision software applications162-172 of the devices of FIGS. 1-2, respectively, as described earlier.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device 400.Communication device 400 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in FIGS. 1-2. Thecommunication device 400 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 402 (herein transceiver 402), a user interface (UI) 404, apower supply 414, a location receiver 416, and a controller 406 formanaging operations thereof. The transceiver 402 can support short-rangeor long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, WiFi,Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), or cellularcommunication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologiescan include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE,EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wirelesscommunication technologies as they arise. The transceiver 402 can alsobe adapted to support circuit-switched wireline access technologies(such as PSTN), packet-switched wireline access technologies (such asTCPIP, VoIP, etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 404 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 408 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device400. The keypad 408 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 400 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad 408 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a Qwertykeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 404 can further include a display410 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 400. In anembodiment where the display 410 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 408 can be presented by way of the display 410 withnavigation features.

The UI 404 can also include an audio system 412 that utilizes commonaudio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heardonly in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such asspeakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 412 can furtherinclude a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. Theaudio system 412 can also be used for voice recognition applications.The UI 404 can further include an image sensor 413 such as a chargedcoupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 414 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy tothe components of the communication device 400 to facilitate long-rangeor short-range portable applications. The location receiver 416 canutilize common location technology such as a global positioning system(GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS for identifying a location of thecommunication device 400 based on signals generated by a constellationof GPS satellites, thereby facilitating common location services such asnavigation.

The communication device 400 can use the transceiver 402 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wirelessaccess points by common sensing techniques such as utilizing a receivedsignal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA)or time of flight (TOF). The controller 406 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies.

The communication device 400 can be adapted to perform the functions ofthe media processor 106, the media devices 108, or the mobilecommunication devices 116 of FIG. 1, as well as the IMS CDs 201-202 andPSTN CDs 203-205 of FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that thecommunication device 400 can also represent other common devices thatcan operate in communication systems 100-200 of FIGS. 1-2 such as agaming console and a media player.

The communication device 400 can be adapted to perform the functions ofthe media processor 106, the media devices 108, or the mobilecommunication devices 116 of FIG. 1, as well as the IMS CDs 201-202 andPSTN CDs 203-205 of FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that thecommunication device 400 can also represent other common devices thatcan operate in communication systems 100-200 of FIGS. 1-2 such as agaming console and a media player.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system 500 fordistribution of media content in accordance with a restricted viewingarea. System 500 can be overlaid or operably coupled to communicationsystems 100-200 as another representative embodiment of communicationsystems 100-200. System 500 can include a media server device 130 incommunication with media processors 506A-506C (such as set-top boxes)and mobile communication devices 516A-H (such as a laptop computer,tablets, mobile phones, smart phones, etc.). The media processors506A-506C and mobile communication devices 516A-H can be communicativelycoupled to the media server device 130 by way of the Internet. Gatewaydevices 504A-B and base stations 517A-E of a mobility network can beused to couple mobile communication devices 516A-H to the media serverdevice, to the Internet, or other communication networks. Globalpositioning satellites 533A-B can provide a means for mobilecommunication devices 516A-H to determine their geographic locations.Premises 570A-B may be associated with mobile communication devices516A-H. A personal media retransmitting device 575 can stream mediacontent from a media processor 506B to other devices over thecommunications network 500.

The present disclosure contemplates a media server device 130 that,among other things, is capable of distribution of media content subjectto a restricted viewing area 560. The media server device 130 can beused to receive media content and to determine if that media content isassociated with a restricted viewing area 560. An exemplary restrictiveviewing area 560 is depicted herein as a radius 555 surrounding asporting stadium 550. The media server device 130 can also be used toreceive geographic location information from a mobile communicationdevice 516A-H and to transmit media content to a mobile communicationdevice 516A-H responsive to determining a relationship between therestricted viewing area 560 and the geographic location of the mobilecommunication device 516A-H. The media server device 130 can therebycontrol distribution of media content subject to viewing arearestrictions according to the illustrative embodiments of methods600-700 of FIGS. 6-7. By applying the media server device 130, asdescribed above, media content can be distributed to mobilecommunication devices 516A-H in a telecommunication system 100 whileadhering to restrictions imposed by licensing arrangements associatedwith the media content.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative method 600 that operates in portions ofthe devices of FIGS. 1-5. Method 600 can begin with step 602 in which ageographic location for a mobile communication device 516A-H can bedetermined. The mobile communication device 516A-H can be a portablecommunication device, such as a computing device, wireless computingdevice, mobile phone, or smart phone device. The mobile communicationdevice 516A-H can receive media content from the communication system100 via base stations 517A-E of a mobility network or by wired orwireless connection to the Internet via gateway devices 504A-B.

In one embodiment, the mobile communication device 516A-H can determineits geographic location by use of a global positioning satellite (GPS)system. The mobile communication device 516A-H can receive signals fromglobal positioning satellites 533A-533B. The mobile communication device516A-H can calculate its geographic location by trilateration of thetime and orbital information embedded in the global positioningsatellite signals. The mobile communication device 516A-H can preciselycalculate its geographic location independent of earth-bound objects.For example, a global positioning satellite receiver on the mobilecommunication device 516H can receive signals from satellites 533A-B andcan process those signals to determine the geographic location of mobilecommunication device 516H as somewhere southeast of the sporting stadium550 and outside the area 560 defined by radius 555. If the same mobilecommunication device 516H is associated with premises 570B (e.g., theuser of the mobile communication device 516H lives at premises 570B) andis communicating with the media server device 130 by way of base station517D of the mobility network, then the apparent location of the mobilecommunication device 516H is somewhere within the area 560, since boththe premises 570B and the base station 517D are within the area.However, the use of the global positioning system allows the geographiclocation of the mobile communication device 516H to be more accuratelydetermine and confirms that it is outside the area.

The mobile communication device 516A-H can receive global positioningsatellite signals and then calculate its geographic location. In oneembodiment, the mobile communication device 516A-H can receive globalpositioning satellite signals and can send these signals to anotherdevice, such as the media server device 130 or another mobilecommunication device 516A-H, where the calculation can be performed todetermine the geographic location. The geographic location can then besent to the mobile communication device 516A-H.

In one embodiment, the mobile communication device 516A-H can determineits geographic location by use of an internet protocol (IP)communication system. The mobile communication device 516A-H canestablish communications with an internet protocol communicationnetwork. The mobile communication device 516A-H can receive an internetprotocol address from the internet protocol communication network. Themobile communication device 516A-H can then determine its geographiclocation according to a geographic location associated with the internetprotocol address. For example mobile communication device 516C canestablish communications with the Internet by way of a wirelessconnection to gateway device 504A. Mobile communication device 516C canthen receive an internet protocol address through the gateway device504A. Mobile communication device 516C can look-up a location associatedwith the internet protocol address and use this location as its owngeographic location. For example, if the location associated with theinternet protocol address is the physical location of the gateway device504A, then the mobile communication device 516C will store the physicallocation of the gateway device 504A as its own geographic location.Again, this location is independent of any premises 570A-B associatedwith the mobile communication device 516C or with any base station, suchas base station 517A, currently communicating with the mobile device.

The mobile communication device 516A-H can form a wired or wirelessconnection to a gateway device 504A-B that is in communication with theInternet. The mobile communication device 516A-H can capture an internetprotocol address assigned to the mobile communication device 516A-H orto the gateway device 504A-B by the Internet. The mobile communicationdevice 516A-H can send this internet protocol address in a request to adatabase, such as the WHOIS database of the Corporation for AssignedNames and Numbers (CANN). The mobile communication device 516A-H canreceive a response from the database describing the geographic locationassociate with that internet protocol address. In one embodiment, themobile communication device 516A-H can store all or part of a databaseof an internet protocol addresses and locations for purposes ofperforming the location search locally.

In one embodiment, the mobile communication device 516A-H can establishcommunications with a base station 517A-E of a mobile communicationnetwork. The mobile communication device 516A-H can then determine itsgeographic location according to a geographic location of the basestation 517A-E. For example, the mobile communication device 516G canestablish communications with base station 517E to access the mobilitynetwork. The base station 517E can send the mobile communication device516G location information for the base station 517E. The mobilecommunication device 516G can then use this location information for thebase station 517E as its own geographic location.

The base station 517A-E can store and report to the mobile communicationdevice 516A-H its physical location. The base station 517A-E can storeand report a code unique to the base station so that the mobilecommunication device 516A-H can look-up the physical location of thebase station in a database either on the mobile communication device,another mobile communication device 516A-H, or over the Internet. Themobile communication device 516A-H can establish communications withmultiple base station 517A-E and determine the locations of each ofthese multiple base station 517A-E. The mobile communication device516A-H can then calculate its own geographic location based on thelocations of these multiple base stations 517A-E.

In step 604, the geographic location of the mobile communication device516A-H can be transmitted from the mobile communication device 516A-H tothe media server device 130. The geographic location can be transmittedto the media server device 130 on a periodic basis. The mobilecommunication device 516A-H can send its geographic location in responseto a request by the media server device 130. The mobile communicationdevice 516A-H can broadcast its geographic location to the media serverdevice 130 without waiting for a request.

The mobile communication device 516A-H can determine if the mobilecommunication device 116 is inside or outside of the restricted viewingarea 560 in step 606. The mobile communication device 516A-H can receiveinformation describing a restricted viewing area 560 from the mediaserver device 130. The restricted viewing area 560 can be associatedwith a sporting event as a local blackout rule. For example, theNational Football League (NFL) requires that local broadcasts of gamesbe restricted, or blacked out, if the football stadium 550 has not soldout all of its ticket prior to the game. In such cases, a blackout area560 is defined as a radius 555 of 75 miles surrounding the stadium 550.A local over-the-air broadcaster whose signal services any part of thisblackout area 560 is prohibited from broadcasting a live feed of theunsold game. The mobile communication device 516A-H can compare itscurrent geographic location with geographic information defining therestricted viewing area 560, if such an area has been required for themedia content, to determine if the mobile communication device 516A-H isinside or outside of the restricted viewing area 560.

If the mobile communication device 516A-H is determined to be outside ofthe restricted viewing area 560 in step 606, then the media content canbe received by the mobile communication device 516A-H from the mediaserver device 130 in step 608. The media content can be any combinationof text, audio, still images, video, three-dimensional images and video,graphics, gaming, or computer-generated media. The media content can bea combination of content sourced from the media server device 130 andcontent generated or modified by the mobile communication device 516A-H.

In one embodiment, the media server device 130 only sends the mediacontent to the mobile communication device 516A-H if the mobilecommunication device 516A-H is outside of the restricted viewing area560. The media server device 130 can determined whether to send themedia content to the mobile communication device 516A-H based on thegeographic location reported by mobile communication device 516A-H. Themedia server device 130 can determine whether the mobile communicationdevice 516A-H is inside or outside the restricted viewing area 560 basedthe geographic location of the mobile communication device 516A-H andcomparing this to the location of the restricted viewing area 560. Inone embodiment, the media server device 130 can send the media contentto the mobile communication device 516A-H without considering therestrictive viewing area. In this case, the mobile communication device516A-H determines whether or not to present the media content based ondetermining in it is inside the restrictive viewing area 560.

The media content can be presented on the mobile communication device516A-H in step 610. The mobile communication device 516A-H can adapt thepresentation of the media content to the capabilities of the mobilecommunication device 516A-H. For example, the mobile communicationdevice 516A-H can alter the resolution or the aspect ratio of videocontent or can time delay the presentation of the media content.

If the mobile communication device 516A-H is determined to be inside ofthe restricted viewing area in step 606, then a subscription offer canbe received by the mobile communication device 516A-H from the mediaserver device 130 in step 612. The subscription can be in the form of adigital license to enable the mobile communication device 516A-H toreceive the media content regardless of any local blackout or restrictedviewing area 560. The subscription can be offered for sale or as part ofa discount or reward to the user of the mobile communication device516A-H. The subscription can be a one-time license for a single mediacontent event, such as a single football game, or a season-long license,or a multiple content license, such as a package of professionalfootball and basketball games. The subscription can be sent by the mediaserver device 130 or by another network device.

If the subscription offer is accepted by the mobile communication device516A-H in step 614, then the media content can be received by the mobilecommunication device 516A-H from the media server device 130 in step608. The subscription offer can be accepted by, for example, an emailmessage or text message emanating from the mobile communication device516A-H, or a user input associated with a website accessed by the mobilecommunication device 516A-H. The subscription acceptance can be asuccessful authorization for payment. If the subscription offer isnot-accepted by the mobile communication device 516A-H in step 614, thenthe mobile communication device 116 can receive a notification from themedia server device 130 that the media content has been blacked out fromthe mobile communication device 516A-H in step 616.

If the mobile communication device 516A-H is determined to be inside ofthe restricted viewing area in step 606, then the mobile communicationdevice 516A-H can receive alternative media content from the mediaserver device 130 in step 618. The alternative media content can betransmitted to the mobile communication device 516A-H by the mediaserver device 130. Where the blacked out media content is a footballgame, the alternative media content can be a different football game.The alternative media content can also be content associated with themobile communication device 516A-H. For example, the media server device130 can select a different football game based on participating teamswho are geographically related to the geographic location of the mobilecommunication device 516A-H. The media server device can select mediacontent based on a premises 570A-B that is associated with the mobilecommunication device 516A-H. For example, if the user of a mobilecommunication device 516A-H resides in a city that is different from thecurrent geographic location of the mobile communication device 516A-H,then the media server device 130 can transmit a football game or othermedia content from the “local television market” of the user's city ofresidence. The media server device 130 can derive information about theuser of the mobile communication device 516A-H from a subscriberdatabase or from information stored on the mobile communication device516A-H, such as the SIM card.

FIG. 7 depicts another illustrative method 700 that operates in portionsof the devices of FIGS. 1-5. Method 700 can begin with step 702 in whichmedia content can be received at a media server device 130. In step 704,the media server device 130 can determine if that the media content isassociated with a restricted viewing area 560. The media server device130 can receive information about blackouts or viewing restrictions froma content source. For example, the NFL publishes blackout informationprior to every game. The restricted viewing area 560 information canalso be included in the media content as data encoded into headerinformation for the data stream. The restricted viewing area 560 can bestatic or dynamic. The restricted viewing area 560 can includeinformation on mobile communication devices 516A-H or associated userswho have subscribed to a license to enable presentation of the mediacontent regardless of restrictions. The subscription may incorporatelessor restrictions, such as the ability to listen to an audio feed ofthe media content but not view a full media stream. For example, themedia server can enable purchasers of tickets to a sporting event toview media content, such as replays, on mobile communication devices516A-H even if the sporting event is subject to local blackout.

If the media content is associated with a restriction, the media serverdevice 130 can encode the media content with information associated withthe restricted viewing area 560 in step 706. The media server device 130can encode the geographic coordinates or a database convertible code ofthe restricted viewing area 560 into a data stream of the media content.The media server device 130 can encrypt the media content and makedecryption dependent upon a geographic location of a mobilecommunication device 516A-H.

The media server device 130 can transmit the media content to the mobilecommunication device 516A-H in step 708. The mobile communication device516A-H can decode the media content, if encoded, in step 710. The mobilecommunication device 516A-H can be determined to be in the restrictedviewing area 560 in step 712. Responsive to a determination that themobile communication device 516A-H is outside of the restricted viewingarea 560 in step 712, the mobile communication device 116 can presentthe media content in step 714. In one embodiment, the media content isencrypted based on the restricted viewing area 560. A decryption key,stored on the mobile communication device 516A-H, can only be enabled ifthe geographic location of the mobile communication device 516A-H isoutside of the restricted viewing area 560.

Responsive to a determination that the mobile communication device516A-H is inside of the restricted viewing area 560 in step 712, themedia server device 130 can transmit a subscription offer to the mobilecommunication device 516A-H in step 716. If the subscription offer isaccepted by the mobile communication device 516A-H in step 718, then themobile communication device 516A-H can present the media content fromthe media server device 130 in step 714. In one embodiment, a blackoutindependent decryption key is sent to the mobile communication device516A-H. This decryption key enables the mobile communication device516A-H to decrypt the media content regardless of any restricted viewingareas 560 in effect.

If the subscription offer is not accepted by the mobile communicationdevice 516A-H in step 718, then the media server device 130 can transmita notification to the mobile communication device 116 that the mediacontent has been blacked out from the mobile communication device 516A-Hin step 720. The media server device 130 can transmit alternative mediacontent to the mobile communication device 516A-H in step 722.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. For example, in one embodiment, amobile communication device 516A-H can receive media content from apersonal media retransmitting device 575. The personal mediaretransmitting device 575 can be a device, such as a Slingbox™,manufactured by the Sling Media Corporation, which can send streamingmedia from a media processor device 506B to another device over anetwork. The mobile communication device 516A-H can receive mediacontent from the personal media retransmitting device 575. The mobilecommunication device 516A-H can disable presentation on the mobilecommunication device of media content from the personal mediaretransmitting device 575 according to the geographic location of themobile communication device and the restricted viewing area 560associated with the media content. The mobile communication device516A-H can thereby prevent the personal media retransmitting device 575from circumventing a restrictive viewing area arrangement.

In one embodiment, the media server device 130 only encrypts the mediacontent if a restricted viewing area 560 is in effect in at least onelocation for the media content.

In one embodiment, the mobile communication device 516A-H can use signalstrength information associated with a base station 517A-E to estimatethe distance between the mobile communication device 516A-H that basestation to determine its geographic location as an offset from thelocation of the base station.

In one embodiment, the mobile communication device 516A-H can combinereported locations of multiple base stations 517A-E with signal strengthdata for multiple base stations to improve the accuracy of thedetermined geographic location. Other embodiments are contemplated bythe present disclosure.

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 800 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethods discussed above. One or more instances of the machine canoperate, for example, as the media server device 130, the mediaprocessor 506A-C, the gateway 504A-B, the mobile communication device516A-H, or combinations thereof as described above. In some embodiments,the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines.In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of aserver or a client user machine in server-client user networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smart phone, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a communication device of the present disclosureincludes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, theterm “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machinesthat individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) ofinstructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

The computer system 800 may include a processor 802 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 804 and a static memory 806, which communicate with each othervia a bus 808. The computer system 800 may further include a videodisplay unit 810 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, ora solid state display. The computer system 800 may include an inputdevice 812 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 814 (e.g., amouse), a disk drive unit 816, a signal generation device 818 (e.g., aspeaker or remote control) and a network interface device 820.

The disk drive unit 816 may include a tangible computer-readable storagemedium 822 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g.,software 824) embodying any one or more of the methods or functionsdescribed herein, including those methods illustrated above. Theinstructions 824 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 804, the static memory 806, and/or within theprocessor 802 during execution thereof by the computer system 800. Themain memory 804 and the processor 802 also may constitute tangiblecomputer-readable storage media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

While the tangible computer-readable storage medium 622 is shown in anexample embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a singlemedium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable ofstoring or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods ofthe present disclosure.

The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordinglybe taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such asa memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only(non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable(volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a diskor tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more ofa tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-timesuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g.,RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, Zigbee), andlong-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA) are contemplated foruse by computer system 800.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated toachieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodimentsshown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations orvariations of various embodiments. Combinations of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein,will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the abovedescription.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can beseen that various features are grouped together in a single embodimentfor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method ofdisclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that theclaimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subjectmatter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimedsubject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile communication device, comprising: amemory to store executable instructions; and a processor coupled to thememory, wherein the executable instructions facilitate performance ofoperations comprising: determining a geographic location of the mobilecommunication device; receiving first information describing arestricted viewing area associated with first media content; determiningif the mobile communication device is within the restricted viewingarea; transmitting to a communication network second informationdescribing whether the mobile communication device is in the restrictedviewing area or is not in the restricted viewing area; receiving anencrypted version of first media content from the communication networkaccording to the mobile communication device being outside of arestricted viewing area associated with the first media content;receiving a decryption key for the encrypted version of the first mediacontent from the communication network; decrypting the encrypted versionof the first media content via the decrypting key to generate anunencrypted version of the first media content; receiving alternativemedia content from the communication network according to the mobilecommunication device being inside the restricted viewing area associatedwith the first media content; and presenting one of the unencryptedversion of the first media content or the alternative media content. 2.The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the processorfurther performs operations comprising receiving a notification ofblacking out of the first media content according to determining thatthe geographic location is inside the restricted viewing area.
 3. Themobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor furtherperforms operations comprising receiving a subscription offer from thecommunication network according to the determining that the geographiclocation is inside the restricted viewing area.
 4. The mobilecommunication device of claim 1, wherein the processor further performsoperations comprising: receiving signals from a global positioningsystem; and calculating the geographic location of the mobilecommunication device from the signals of the global positioning system.5. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the processorfurther performs operations comprising: facilitating establishment ofcommunications with an internet protocol communication network; andreceiving an internet protocol address from the internet protocolcommunication network, wherein the geographic location of the mobilecommunication device is determined according to a network geographiclocation associated with the internet protocol address.
 6. The mobilecommunication device of claim 1, wherein the processor further performsoperations comprising facilitating establishment of communications witha base station of a mobile communication network and wherein thegeographic location of the mobile communication device is determinedaccording to a station geographic location of the base station of themobile communication network.
 7. The mobile communication device ofclaim 1, wherein the geographic location of the mobile communicationdevice is determined according to a network location received from thecommunication network.
 8. The mobile communications device of claim 1,wherein the processor further performs operations comprising: receivinga subscription offer from the communication network according todetermining that the geographic location of the mobile communicationdevice is inside the restricted viewing area; and transmitting anacceptance of the offer to the communication network.
 9. The mobilecommunications device of claim 8, wherein the acceptance comprises oneof an email message or a text message.
 10. The mobile communicationdevice of claim 1, wherein the first media content or the alternativemedia content is received from the communication network by way of apersonal media retransmitting device at a premises associated with themobile communication device.
 11. A non-transitory machine-readablestorage medium comprising executable instructions, which when executedby a processor facilitate performance of operations comprising:determining that first media content is associated with a restrictedviewing area; transmitting first information describing the restrictedviewing area to a mobile communication device; receiving secondinformation from the mobile communication device describing whether themobile communication device is in the restricted viewing area of is notin the restricted viewing area; transmitting an alternative mediacontent to the mobile communication device according to the mobilecommunication device being within the restricted viewing area;transmitting a decryption key to the mobile communication deviceaccording to the mobile communication device being outside of therestricted viewing area; and transmitting an encrypted version of thefirst media content to the mobile communication device according to themobile communication device being outside of the restricted viewingarea, wherein the mobile communication device decrypts the encryptedversion of the first media content via the decryption key to generate anunencrypted version of the first media content.
 12. The non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the first mediacontent and the alternative media content are configured for decoding bythe mobile communication device.
 13. The non-transitory machine-readablestorage medium of claim 11, comprising executable instructions thatcause the processor to further perform operations comprising sending anotification to the mobile communication device that the first mediacontent is not available to the mobile communication device responsiveto the the mobile communication device being within of the restrictedviewing area associated with the media content.
 14. The non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium of claim 11, comprising executablecomputer instructions to cause the processor to further performoperations comprising: transmitting an offer for a subscription serviceto the mobile communication device to enable a presentation of the firstmedia content on the mobile communication device without regard to therestricted viewing area associated with the media content; and receivingfrom the mobile communication device a reply to the offer.
 15. A methodcomprising: receiving, by a system comprising a processor, informationdescribing whether a mobile communication device is within a restrictedviewing area or is not within the restricted viewing area, wherein themobile communication determines the information; transmitting, by thesystem, an alternative media content to the mobile communication deviceaccording to the mobile communication device being within the restrictedviewing area; transmitting, by the system, a decryption key to themobile communication device according to the mobile communication devicebeing outside of the restricted viewing area; and transmitting, by thesystem, an encrypted version of first media content for presentation atthe mobile communication device according to the mobile communicationdevice being outside of the restricted viewing area, wherein the mobilecommunication device decrypts the encrypted version of the first mediacontent via the decryption key to generate an unencrypted version of thefirst media content.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprisingtransmitting, by the system, a notification of blacking out of the firstmedia content according to the mobile communication device being insidethe restricted viewing area.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein ageographic location of the mobile communication device is calculatedfrom signals received by the mobile communication device.
 18. The methodof claim 15, wherein a geographic location of the mobile communicationdevice is determined from a network geographic location associated withan internet protocol address that is associated with the mobilecommunication device.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein a geographiclocation of the mobile communication device is determined from a networkgeographic location of an access point of a mobile communication networkbeing utilized by the mobile communication device.